“But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; May those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer;’ do not delay, O my God!” —Psalm 40:16-17, ESV

One of the great hindrances to spiritual vitality is a misguided perspective on the greatness of God. Our world view is a pre-Copernicus standpoint. Instead of the sun revolving around the earth, we think and live like God and everyone else revolves around us. Our estimation of our own importance is inflated. Our view of God is deflated.

Nothing renews our soul faster than an expanding view of the greatness of God. When we see him in his full holiness, power and majesty, our spiritual universe is reordered as it should be. God becomes everything. He is our joy and our hope. He captures our attention. We long to see him more and to view him more accurately.

So how do we recover a “greatness of God perspective?” I believe that expansive reading of the scriptures restores a right outlook. A primary focus of scriptures is to reveal the true and living God. One specific thing that can help is to read a Psalm every day. Even in the Psalms of lament they will eventually return to the awesomeness of God. Read a Psalm and list out every aspect of God that is suggested in the poem. Then take your list and turn it into an outline for worship.

For example, in these two verses quoted above we are reminded:

God is our Savior

“He takes thought of me” – he knows me intimately and cares for me

He is my “help”

He is my “deliverer”

He is “my God”

Take those thoughts and form them into expressions of praise and adoration. Such a habit will do much to restore in you an appreciation for the greatness of God.